Joes Disco Weather Central Time Capsule

            Hi everybody and welcome. This week has been a very intense and fast-paced week for me. I got very concerned as Lili suddenly intensified to a category 4 storm. This was also our first major hurricane this year to strike the U.S. The path of Lili was very easy to follow because the steering currents were very strong. There was little doubt about where the storm was going to make landfall. Everybody in Louisiana was expecting the worse. A category 4 storm can cause extensive damage to roofs and mobile homes. A storm of this magnitude can also cause extensive flooding. Much to the surprise of forecasters, the storm suddenly weakened as it neared landfall. This was a real blessing as the damage was not near as bad as it could have been. Even though there was some wind damage, the flooding and storm surge was the main factor. In fact, during most hurricanes, the storm surge usually causes the most deaths. A storm surge is a wall of water that is pushed ahead of a hurricane as it makes landfall. A storm surge can be as high as 20 feet or more. Imagine a 20-foot wave coming at you while you are on the beach. It’s a very frightening thought. That’s why it is so important to heed evacuation notices when they are issued, especially if you live near water.

            With the weather getting a bit cooler, many people are heading outdoors and sprucing up their yards. A lot of people want to plant plants that can add color to their yards but want something that requires very little maintenance. The bougainvillea is an excellent choice. These plants are very easy to grow and come in a variety of vibrant colors. These plants can create great accents in almost any landscape.

            Bougainvilleas are impressive colorful plants that do well in warm climates and love sunny locations. They do best when they are in a location that gets from 6-8 hours of sunlight. They bloom almost all year but have their most color during the spring, fall and winter. The plant is extremely hardy and requires very little care. In fact, too much TLC can actually be counter-productive. They do not like to stay real wet but rather be evenly moist. Over watering can cause them to stop blooming or drop leaves. One other thought…did you know that the bloom is actually not the color that you see? The color is actually the leaf itself. The actual bloom is the small white flower you see coming out of the cluster of leaves.

            Now, on to the Time Capsule…

 

October 10, 1888 -- north Florida -- A hurricane made landfall on the Gulf Coast near Cedar Key and exited into the Atlantic near Jacksonville killing nine people.

October l0, l989 -- St. Johns, Flagler, Volusia, Brevard Counties -- Flooding/Flash Flood - Torrential rains developed along the upper Florida east coast north of a stationary front. Rain amounts between six and l6 inches occurred along the coast. This resulted in widespread flooding of streets and structures. In St. Augustine, where the greatest rain total was recorded (l6.08"), extensive flooding occurred in homes and businesses, and caused the closing of many streets that had over three feet of standing water. Flooding in northern Brevard Co. around Scottsmoor was also severe. Considerable road and property damage resulted.

 October l0-ll, l990 -- west coast and Keys -- Tropical Storm Marco formed in the Gulf of Mexico, just west of Key West on the afternoon of the l0th. By l700 on the 11th Marco was downgraded to a depression just south of Cedar Key. Most of the damage was downed trees and power lines, some coastal flooding and beach erosion. There were two small tornadoes spawned by the storm on the afternoon of 11th, one north of Crystal River and one northeast of Lake City in Columbia Co. The only injury of significance occurred in Sarasota Co. Highest wind gust during the storm was 85 mph on the Sunshine Skyway Bridge across Tampa Bay.

October 11, l885 -- Alachua Co. -- A hurricane spawned tornado destroyed four homes near Windsor, injuring eight. The storm made landfall near Tampa Bay.

October 11, l909 -- south Florida & Keys -- A Hurricane recurved over the extreme southern tip of Florida. The Weather Bureau station on Sand Key estimated winds at 100 mph. All trees were blown down and heavy seas swept over the island. The lowest barometer reading was 28.36 inches. At Key West the barometer fell to 28.50 inches and the highest wind gust was 94 mph. About 400 buildings collapsed. Fifteen people reported killed.

October 11-12, l947 -- Keys/south Florida -- A hurricane moved out of the Caribbean and passed near Key West the evening of the 11th, then crossed south Florida, exiting into the Atlantic near Ft. Lauderdale. Peak hurricane winds were 95 mph and one death was reported. Several tornadoes were spawned by the hurricane - one near Cape Sable, unroofed two homes.

 October 11, l987 -- Monroe Co., Key Largo - Preceding Hurricane Floyd, a waterspout/tornado moved through Key Largo causing damage to several boats, mobile homes, trees and power lines.

October 11, l994 -- Broward Co., Coral Springs -- Lightning injured three female students, ages 11, l2, and l3. The three had just gotten off a school bus and were walking home during heavy rain under a single umbrella when lightning struck a nearby tree. Two of the females were hospitalized overnight.

October 11-l2, l994 -- northeast Florida -- Flood/Coastal Flood -- Heavy rains across much of northeast Florida caused widespread flooding of roadways and vehicles and minor flooding of schools, businesses and homes. Strong onshore winds caused significant beach erosion and minor coastal flooding along portions of the northeast coast.

October 12, l987 -- south Florida and the Keys -- Hurricane Floyd moved east-northeast along the Florida Keys and passed south of Miami during the evening as a disorganized and weakening storm. Wind up to 5l knots was recorded at Duck Key, and most of the Keys reported 40 to 50 knot winds. Over south Florida, wind of 30 to 35 knots with gusts of 40 to 50 knots was reported. Rainfall of two to 4 inches was reported across southern Florida, with a band of five to 9 inches from Naples to Lake Okeechobee to Fort Pierce. Trees and power lines were downed in several areas of south Florida and the Keys. A ship off the Dade and Broward County coasts listed to 40 degrees and was abandoned.

October l3, l967 -- Broward Co., Pompano Beach -- Severe thunderstorm winds blew out windows, overturned several boats, and unroofed an office building. Two waterspouts were reported off Melbourne Beach in Brevard County.

October 14, l964  -- South Florida, Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, and East Coast -- Hurricane Isabel spawned between nine to l2 tornadoes during the afternoon and evening of the l4th. The tornadoes accounted for all 48 of the reported storm injuries, and a considerable portion of the property damages in the populated areas. Tidal damage was minor in all areas, and limited to piers, boats, and docking facilities. Tides caused some flooding of roads and beaches on the south side of Key West. Vegetable crops in the Everglades agricultural areas over which the storm center passed sustained considerable damage from strong winds and locally intense rains. Two persons drowned when a shrimp boat was destroyed near Marquesas Keys. Some stronger tornadoes spawned by Isabel: l724 - Palm Beach Co., Boynton Beach - a tornado destroyed a dozen trailers and unroofed four homes. 2020 - Brevard Co., Eau Gallie - A tornado struck the Orange Court Trailer Park on Wickham Road, injured l7 people, damaged several trailers and some nearby buildings. 2250 - Broward Co., Hollywood - a tornado damaged six airplanes and removed the clubhouse roof at the country club.

October 14, l994 -- St. Johns Co., Crescent Beach -- A 29-year-old male tourist drowned after being caught in a rip current caused by strong northeast winds.

October 15-16, 1956 -- east coast -- Coastal Storm -- A low pressure center moved north from Cuba just off the east coast bringing high winds and tides, and heavy rain to the entire east coast. The heaviest rain fell in Osceola Co. where some 48-hour amounts approached 20 inches. Flooding was most severe, including some bridges and roads washed out, in Kissimmee/St. Cloud, Taft, and Fellsmere. Two persons died in heavy surf.

October l6 - l9, l968 -- Keys and Peninsula -- Hurricane Gladys moved northward just west of Dry Tortugas about noon on the l6th with maximum winds of minimal hurricane force. It moved slowly north- northwestwards before turning toward the northeast on the l8th about 75 miles west of St. Petersburg and made landfall near Homosassa late on the 18th. Gladys continued northeast across the peninsula, passing just south of Ocala and moved into the Atlantic near St. Augustine on the morning of the l9th. Total damage of about 6.7 million dollars was concentrated mostly in and just north of the Tampa Bay area and in the Ocala area. A tornado, spawned by Hurricane Gladys, unroofed a house and damaged several other homes near Tallevast in Manatee Co. on the evening of the 18th.

 October 16 - l7, 1975  -- northwest Florida -- A Tropical Depression that formed in the southwestern Gulf of Mexico on the l4th moved inland on the Louisiana coast the night of October l6th and merged with a cold front. The resultant low-pressure system intensified and moved up through the Appalachian Mountains with the trailing cold front moving through Florida. Northwestern Florida received heavy rainfall, at least two small tornadoes, high winds, rough seas and high tides. Wind gusts to 45 mph and tides 4 feet above normal were reported. No deaths or injuries were reported. Heaviest rainfall amounts ranged from four to 6 inches in some sections. Widespread Street flooding occurred and some state roads were closed briefly due to flooding. Most of the damage occurred in the Panama City area. Also, a tornado in Panama City Beach damaged several buildings.

October 17, 1906 --Miami & Key West -- A Hurricane moved out of the Caribbean and across the lower Keys to Miami leaving 164 dead. The storm weakened in the Atlantic and turned back to Florida, crossing the coast near Daytona Beach as tropical storm.

October 17-18, 1910 -- Keys and southwest Florida -- A hurricane passed near Key West and made landfall near Ft. Myers. Winds to 125 mph were reported on Sand Key. Thirty deaths attributed to storm.

October l7-18, l950 -- Hurricane King formed in the northwest Caribbean, made landfall near Miami and moved up the central peninsula and dissipated on the morning of the 19th. The path of principal destruction was only 7-l0 miles wide through the greater Miami area and northward to West Fort Lauderdale. It was at first reported that the damage was the result of a tornado. Gusts were l50 mph at Miami and l38 mph at Ft. Lauderdale. Three people died.

October 17, l967 - - Palm Beach Co., Pahokee - Hail and wind destroyed 300 acres of sweet corn and l500 acres of sugar cane was badly damaged. Winds gusted to 60 mph and hail of all sizes covered the ground.

            Remember, hurricane season is far from over. Some very strong hurricanes can still form in October and, although unlikely, they can also form in November. Keep a close watch on the tropics for at least the next couple of weeks. As always, for the latest in tropical and severe weather updates go to JOESDISCOWEATHERCENTRAL.COM. You can also join me every Saturday at the Stuart K Mart garden center for a free cup of coffee and a free copy of The Hometown News! You can also e-mail me your weather questions or comments at JOESDISCOWEATHER@AOL.COM!